An inside look at the CAD, CAM and CAE industry - by Roopinder Tara

February 17, 2014

MakerBot Ideal for 3D Printing in Engineering, Design Firms

SAN DIEGO, CA (SolidWorks World 2014) - 3D printer maker, MakerBot, ambition is no less than putting a 3D printer on the desk of every engineer, architect, industrial designer and (per the MakerBots's website) just about everyone else. Students, their teachers...hobbyists, the itinerant tinkerer, maybe? Though MakerBot is helping the acceptance of 3D printing, with each new wave of products lowering the price of admission into the world of 3D printing, even the entry level of $1,375 for the soon-to-be-available MakerBot Mini leaves MakerBots in the realm of professional firms. To be affordable to consumers and kids, the price has be be that of a toaster, or at least a microwave oven.

A design firm or engineering consultancy seems to be MakerBot marketing sweet spot. For them, the MakerBot Replicators offers a quality desktop printer at an affordable price ($2,899).

MakerBot was acquired by 3D print giant Stratasys in the Summer of 2013 in a $403M deal (see press release).